Chelsea, Arsenal start with wins

LONDON, England -- Chelsea opened their Premier League title bid by coming from behind to beat promoted Birmingham City 3-2 while London rivals Arsenal snatched a late 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

Chelsea, looking to wrest the title back from Manchester United, who were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw against Reading in the late match, took the points with a second half strike from Ghana midfielder Michael Essien.

In a whirlwind first half, Birmingham took a shock lead through Finnish former Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell. The Blues hit back with goals from league debutants Claudio Pizarro of Peru and Frenchman Florent Malouda, while City leveled through their new French signing Olivier Kapo.

But Chelsea came out flying for the second half and were soon back in front, Essien lashing home a curling first-time shot to Shaun Wright-Phillips' cut-back.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told BBC Five Live radio: "We had so many chances to kill the game, it would have been more enjoyable for me to see a 4-2 or a 5-3 than a 3-2."

But he added: "It was a good game to celebrate the home record, a game with goals and enthusiasm, and better than a 0-0 where we still have the record but it's not a good game."

Striker Robin van Persie converted an 83rd minute penalty and Alexander Hleb struck a 90th minute winner to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Belarussian pounced seconds into injury-time to a cap a late fight-back from Arsene Wenger's side, who had looked set for a shock defeat after Jens Lehmann's first minute blunder had gifted David Healy a debut goal.

It was cruel on Fulham and their goalkeeper, Tony Warner, in particular. The 34-year-old had been drafted into Lawrie Sanchez's starting line-up moments before kick-off after his first-choice, Antti Niemi, injured himself in the warm-up.

Warner made a string of spectacular saves to keep Arsenal at bay and certainly enjoyed a better day than Lehmann.

After 53 seconds the German made a hash of dealing with Gael Clichy's gentle back-pass, attempting a clever reverse pass instead of clearing downfield.

Lehmann slipped at the crucial moment and scuffed straight to Healy, and the ball bounced in off the forward's shin.

Falling behind at the Emirates Stadium is hardly a new experience for Arsenal. No team won more points from losing positions last season, but then they could at least count on the steadying influence of old heads such as Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg, who have both moved on.

There was a frantic quality to much of Arsenal's football, although they still created many chances.

In the 13th minute, Tomas Rosicky flashed a volley wide of the right-hand post following fine work by Bacary Sagna, while Hleb's low drive moments later was well blocked by a sprawling Zat Knight.

Even when Arsenal did break through, they found Warner in inspired form. The former Liverpool goalkeeper tipped aside Rosicky's 35th-minute daisy-cutter, somehow blocked Hleb's shot from close range and then dived bravely at Fabregas's feet just as the Spaniard was set to equalize.

Fulham were hanging on grimly, although the quicksilver runs of Healy and Simon Davies ensured Arsenal were never entirely comfortable.

The visitors howled for a penalty after Davies collapsed under Fabregas's challenge shortly before half-time, but replays suggested referee Phil Dowd was right to wave play on.

That did not stop Sanchez complaining vociferously on the touchline, although the Fulham manager should have been grateful that Dowd had taken an equally dismissive view of Arsenal's own penalty claims in the 20th minute, when Hleb had been illegally scythed down by Chris Baird.

The second period started at a similarly break-neck pace, with Warner immediately denying Rosicky with a plunging save, although Arsenal's increasing desperation left their defense riddled with holes.

Fulham could have made the points secure when Healy's right-wing cross sparked havoc but Steven Davis - yet another debutant - could only blast the loose ball straight at Lehmann.

It was a costly miss. With seven minutes remaining, Kolo Toure's surge into the area was checked by Carlos Bocanegra and van Perse slammed his spot-kick high into the top corner.

Arsenal would have been grateful for a point, but they snatched all three with seconds remaining when Hleb finally snaked a shot past the despairing Warner. Arsenal were triumphant, but hardly convincing.

"Better late than never," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BBC radio. "We were physically and mentally strong and didn't give up.

"We had a bad start and after that played against a very good Fulham side who could have scored a second goal -- and then it would have been nearly impossible.

Looking ahead, he said: "That kind of result can change a season for a team, and certainly strengthen the belief."

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez said: "We feel very hard done by. It's tough going away empty handed. We deserved at least a point. I felt we were good value for our lead.

"We told David Healy that Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann can be erratic under pressure and he chased him down and did well to get his goal.

"I was disappointed by the way Arsenal's equalizer came - they had three claims for penalties and then their fourth appeal for a penalty was given." E-mail to a friend